Automobile curtain-window



J.-E. SPENCER AND A. C. LlLLlE.

AUTOMOBILE CURTAIN WINDOW.

APPLICATION man NOV. 21, 1911.

1,331,683, Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Mrs/2mm Y S Arf/zur f.

. SPENCER AND A. C. LILLIE.

AUTOMOBILE CURTA'IN WINDOW.

APPLICATION FILED NOW 21-. 1-91 mre/v/am Arr/2w" 6. um and John E. Spencer UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. SPENCER AND ARTHUR C. LILLIE, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE CURTAIN-WINDO'W.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JoNH E. SPENCER, and ARTHUR G. LILLIE, citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Curtain- Windows, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to curtain windows for automobiles and the like; relating more particularly to windows employing plate or other glass; and it is an object of this invention to provide simple and efiicient means for mountinga transparent member, particularly a piece of plate glass, in a flexible curtain. It will be understood that when We refer to a curtain, we mean to include any such things as the back or side of an automobile top, of fabric, leather'or other flexible or different material; or, in fact, anything of. like nature where it is desired to insert a window. We do not mean the term curtain to be limited to any particu: lar kind of curtain.

Our invention may be applied to any curtain; its function being to form a frame and a clamping or holding means which engages the curtain and supports the glass or other transparent member. We are aware that means have heretofore been proposed and used for framing and supporting glass windows in a flexible curtain. The particular object of this invention is to provide such a means in very simple and efficient form, economical of manufacture, and easy and economical of installation; and further, one which will securely hold itself to the curtain and hold the'glass therein.

In accomplishing these objects this invention takes the form of two frame members, each annular in form, between which frame members both the glass and the curtain are clamped. Simplicity is one of the objects of this invention; and this object is attained by a structure in which the frame is composed of but two parts, each of which is easily manufactured. It is a feature of this invention that these two frame parts clamp or hold the transparent members between them by action in one direction and clamp and hold the curtain between them byaction in another direction. Specifically, the glass is clamped in a di rection transverse of the pl ane of the frame,

' Specification of Letters Patent.

. similar shapes.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

Application filed November 27, 1917. Serial No. 204,258.

while the curtain is clamped in a direction radial of the frame. This feature, and others, will b best understood from the following specification wherein we explain a preferred form of curtain window embodying our invention; reference bein had for this purpose to the accompanying c rawin s in which-.

igure 1 is an elevation of the interior side of my curtain window; Fig. 2 is a view showing how the curtain is preferably cut in preparation for the installation of the window; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig 4 is a similar section showing a modified form; Fig. 5 is a similar section showing another modified form; Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 1 showing the window applied to a double curtain; and Fig. 7 is a similar section showing a modified disposition of the double curtain.

It will be understood that our invention may be applied to windows of any size and of any form, and that the windows may be applied to any kind of curtain. Although we illustrate herein a circular window we are not at all limited to such a shape, or to Such a window comprises a transparent member 11 (preferably a beveled plate glass), and a frame 12 which frames the transparent member in the curtain 10 and provides the means for clamp-' ing and holding the transparent member and at the same time for holding the frame in the curtain 10. The novelties of this device are comprised in the construction and action of the frame 12, and in combination with the curtain and the transparent member 11. Frame 12 comprises two annular frame members 13 and I l, member 13 is usually on the exterior side of the curtain and member 14 on the interior side; although this particular arrangement is not a necessary one. Member 13 is preferably endlessly annular; while member 14 1s preferablv annular but is ended at 15 and may be provided with a suitable clamping means, such as a screw or bolt as shown at 16, for contracting the annular member 1 clamp it and hold it tightly and positively in proper position. One of the ends 15 may fit or slide within the other end 15, in a lapped or telescoped effect, so as to leave no between the ends. The member 14: further may be of a resil ent nature and tend to resiliently contract circumferentially and radially and may then be, or be not, supplied with the clamp.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that each of the frame members is of such form as to be adapted to be made of pressed, or otherwise formed, sheet metal; and this is one of the excellencies of this device that it can be made economically of sheet metal.

Member 13 is formed with a glass engaging edge 20 at the edge of a curved portion 21 which extends inwardly from an outer straight cylindrical portion 22 of the member. This outer straight portion 22 has at its outer edge an annular roove 23 adapted, in this particular form 0% device, to receive an annular member 24 which may preferably be in the form of a wire formed to the roper conformation.

T e member 14 comprises essentially two arts 25 and 26, which parts are each annu ar in general formation and each lie in separate conical surfaces. The parts 25 and 26 make a certain angle to each other, such as is illustrated in Fig. 3. Part 25 has a glass an aging edge at 27; and part 26 may have a ipped or flanged edge at 28.

The curtain is preferabl cut in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. he fabric within the outline of the aperture is cut radially.

' For instance, if a circular opening is to be made, the fabric within the circle is cut into a plurality of sectors 29, and the opening is then formed by laying these sectors back onto the curtain. The member 13 is put in place and the annular member 24 is put in place with the cut sectors 29 pulled around the member 24. Member 14 is then put in place; and before this member is tightened up to final position the various sectors 29 may be pulled up into proper position around the member 24, so as to pull the curtain 10 up to the frame all around, without any wrinkles. These cut sectors thus provide a means for pulling the curtain to proper position; and the fact that the curtain around the edge of the aperture is cut radially prevents any wrinkling in that art of the curtain immediately surroun ing the frame. It will be noted that the uncut solid part of the curtain extends justinto the frame to the point denoted 29". After the member 14 has been tightened in position, then the ends of the cut sectors, which previously projected as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, are cut off around the ed e of the lip or flange 28.

t will be noted that member 14 bears at 27 against the glass 11, and that it also bears at 30 against the fabric directl over the annular member 24; and that 1t also bears at the flange or lip 28 upon the fabric where the fabric is clamped between the part 28 and the part 22 or part 21 of member 13. Member 14 is of such original or normal configuration that, as it is drawn radially inwardly by the contracting action of clamp screw 16, it first makes contact at 27 and 28 and does not make contact at 30 until it is finally tightened into place. In other words, in being tightened .into place, the member 14 is swung somewhat; so that it finally exerts a resilient pressure upon the glass 11 to hold the glass in place against the member 13. It will be observed that member 13 is also so formed as to be re silient; the glass is resilientl clamped between the two edges 20 and 2 When member 14 is in final position, the flanged edge 28 preferably bears over onto the curved part 21 of member 13; and, part 26 of member 14 being slightly conical, the circumferential and radial contraction of member .14.- tends to throw member 14 farther transversely onto the member 13 and tends to draw the clamping edge 27 transversely against the glass 11.

In Fig. 4, we illustrate a slightly modified form of device in which the member 14 is provided, between the parts 25 and 26, with a curved part or groove 35 surrounding the annular member 24. Otherwise the construction of the form shown in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 3, and the operation is also substantially the same.

In Fig. 5 we illustrate another modified form in which the annular member 24 is not used; but the parts 29 of the fabric 10 are clamped between the part 23 of member 13 and a correspondingly shaped nesting part 36 of the member. In this form the interengagement of parts 36 and 23 tends to press the glass en aging edge 27 against glass 11. Otherwise t is form is the same as that of Fig. 3.

In Fig. 6 we illustrate how our device may be applied to a double curtain or to a curtain 10 which has an inner lining 10. The inner lining is usually spaced from the outer part 10 of the curtain; and this spacing may be preserved by securing the inner lining under a ring 35 which is put around the member 14 in a manner indicated in Fig. 6. This ring 35 may be a resilient ring which closes itself, or it may be provided with clamping means such as provided in member 14.

In Fig. 7 we illustrate another means of securing the inner lining 10*. The inner lining may be passed in over the face of the member 14 and turned under the edge 27 of member 14, as is. indicated at 10*; so that the edge of the curtain lining is held between the member 14 and the glass 11. The lass is thus held against a soft fabric sur ace; and the construction is such that all metal is covered on the inside of the curtain.

It will be seen that a characteristic of all the forms herein described is the use of two frame members'between which the glass and the curtain are clamped; that the glass and curtain are clamped by action in different directions, the glass being clamped transversely between the two frame members and the curtain being clamped radially between the two frame members and that the lass is resiliently clamped in place. It wil be noted that the two frame members fit one around the other, rather than fit laterally or transversely together. Furthermore, in the preferred forms, the construction is such that the curtain may be cut in the manner specified, thus providing means for drawing the curtain into its proper position and providing means for eradicating all possible wrinkling of the curtain.

It will be understood that our device may be applied to a. window of any form; it is not necessarily limited to such a configuration as herein shown, and when we use the terms annular and circumferential and radial we do not mean to apply them only to a circular or oval form. 1

It will be understood hat while we have gone into the description of preferred forms of our device with some particularity and detail, we do not thereby limit our invention to such particulars; but rather mean the foregoing description to be indicative of our invention, than limitative of it. Accordingly we reserve to ourselves all of those changes and modifications which may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art or which may fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described a preferred form of our invention, we claim:

1. A frame to frame and hold a transparency ina curtainwith an opening, comprising a-pair of annular frame members one havingan annular part adapted to fit over and outside-wan annular part of the other and to radially clamp the curtain between sa'id' arts, andsaid frame members having res lent annularparts extending radially inwardly from the curtain clamping parts and lying transversely spaced from each other to clamp the transparency between them, said outer annular curtain clamping part being slightly conical, smaller at its free edge than at its edge where it joins the transparency clamping part, and

having a bearing against the curtain at its free edge.

2. A frame comprising a pair of frame members one of whichis of endless annular form and the other of annular ended form and provided with clamping means, the second mentioned member having a part adapted to fit and be clamped around the first mentioned member, and the two members having opposite transversely spaced transparency clamping parts.

3. A frame, comprising a pair of frame members one endless and the other ended and adapted to lie in the same general plane as the first mentioned member, means to clamp the second mentioned member around the first mentioned member, said members having opposite transversely spaced transparency engaging parts which extend around their inner edges.

4. A frame, comprising a pair of integral sheet metal frame members one of which is of endless annular form and the other of annular ended form and provided with clamping means, the first mentioned member having a substantially cylindrical portion and a portion extending from one edge thereof in a curve inwardly to provide a transversely facing transparency engaging edge, the second mentioned member having two annular portions which join each other at an angle, one of said annular portions lying around the cylindrical portion of the first mentioned member, and the other of said annular portions of the second mentioned members extending a transparency clamping edge to a point transversely opposite the transparency engaging edge of the first mentioned member, to clamp a transbetween the two parency transversely parency engaging edges.

5. A frame comprising a pair of frame members of annular form oneof which is contractible and expansible, one of said members having a part adapted to fit and clamp around the other member, and the two members having opposite transversely spaced transparency holding parts.

In witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 19th day of November, 1917.

JOHN E. SPENCER. ARTHUR C. LILLIE.

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